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Monthly Mix #3: Like A Shark Does

I realize that June has been gone for almost two weeks at this point but I didn't quite figure out if I wanted this to be a summer theme or just a collection of music again...and then I went on vacation. So, here I am with the June mix on July 12 and it's a cross between summer and a collection and also contains songs I discovered while on vacation. Whatever. In the end, it's a great group of songs and that's all that matters. As usual, the title comes from lyrics in one of the songs...a choice that may have been influenced by last night's Twitter explosion over Sharknado. I hope you listen (remember that it's on Spotify under my name) and enjoy...

1. Demon Dance/Surfer Blood - This is the lead track from their new album, Pythons, and is the perfect lead track for this mix. Pop rock and screaming guitars, what more could you want in the summer?

2. Swim and Sleep/Unknown Mortal Orchestra - I've heard this song here and there over the past few months and finally remembered to put it on a mix. I like the ethereal quality that balances its pop song structure. I really should dig deeper into this album (called II) too.

3. Smooth Sailing/Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork is a really really good album, full of great QOTSA rock. This song has a bit of a different feel, kinda dancy and angular, and I dig it. Check out the dissonant guitars at about 3:50.

4. Summer Ace/Young Sportsmen - Kevin Cole played this on KEXP on the first day of summer and I immediately liked it. Of course, I have a hard time turning down summery power pop. I am also completely fine with that fact.

5. Stare at the Sun/Eleanor Friedberger - This is from her second solo album, Personal Record, which came out a few weeks ago. She wrote the album with John Wesley Harding and they make a good team. This song in particular is so damn catchy.

6. High School Lover/Cayucas - Songs from this album have been floating around for a number of months now and I thought it was time to include one. The bass line is where this song hooks me and then the piano and background oohs and melody dig in deeper. School has been out for five weeks now but this still feels like summer, doesn't it?

7. Bus Stop/The Hollies - I heard this on Little Steven's Underground Garage on Sirius XM while I was driving the mile-and-a-half down to the country store at the lake while we were on vacation last week and loved it immediately. I didn't remember having heard it before, though I probably had at some point. Such a great tune and it fits perfectly with the rest of these songs.

8. Songs That She Sang In The Shower/Jason Isbell - This is from Isbell's fantastic new album, Southeastern, which will probably end up in my top ten for the year. It is that good. I like this song for the lyrics and the chorus. I almost called this mix Shower Songs because the others are in my head when I shower lately.

9. Do It Again/Camera Obscura - Oh, this song. Catchy, and sexy, and that voice. This is from their new album, Desire Lines, which came out a few weeks ago.

10. Rhythm Bruises/Har Mar Superstar - I heard a different song from this album, Bye Bye 17, on a summer mix from Heather Browne and decided to give it a try. This song really stood out for me and I think it fits with the rest of these songs pretty well. Also, horns.

11. For You/The Sugar Twins - I heard this one on the way home from New York on the aforementioned Underground Garage and tweeted at the DJ to remember the name of the artist. Fits in perfectly with the sexy portion of the mix, doesn't it?

12. Ain't That the Way/Divine Fits - The band follows up their great 2012 debut album with a "single" - two songs that further cement that this is not a one-off and is a true band. Both songs are really good but I favor this one just slightly...the riff, the bass, Britt Daniel's voice, the little wash of keys come together in such a great way.

13. Until The Good is Gone/Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul - This is the third song I got from Underground Garage on vacation and it's one from the head honcho. Apparently, it's from 1982. As a Springsteen guy, I probably should already have known it. Oh well, I do know. Horns and a great guitar solo.

14. Make Good Choices/Sean Nelson - Nelson was the driving force behind the band Harvey Danger, who had a hit in the 90s with "Flagpole Sitta" and then put out two more great albums that no one paid attention to. This is the title track from his first solo album and it's full of tuneful, smart songs like this one.

15. I Like The Things About Me/Mavis Staples - This is from Mavis's new album, One True Vine, which was once again produced by Jeff Tweedy from Wilco. The bass and drums form a great bed for this song and when you add Mavis's powerhouse of a voice with the chorus behind her and that guitar that comes in. So so good, right?

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